Another Miracle on the Last Cast

by | Aug 12, 2014 | Uncategorized | 4 comments

blog-Aug-12-2014-1-icelandic-fly-fishermenNot only was this morning’s session my last here in Iceland, but also Ingo’s.  Ingo returned to Reykjavik with me tonight and has no more Atlantic salmon fishing days this year.  That’s why we both got up early and made it to the water at 7 AM.  We wanted to end Iceland 2014 on a high note.

 

blog-Aug-12-2014-2-ingo-helgason-flyfishing-icelandAnd we did.  We raised five salmon and landed two.  Ingo got the first one.  He had a salmon raise to his fly but swirl and not eat it twice in a row.  I watched Ingo change flies over and over while resting the fish between changes.  Ingo’s persistence paid off and finally I heard the splash of his leaping fish.  Although not a big boy, under this weeks difficult conditions any salmon landed is a victory.

 

blog-Aug-12-2014-3-Jeff-Currier-fly-fishing-in-IcelandI had one fish raise to my fly at the end of the swing.  I felt the lightest tug and tried to feed him but when I lifted he was gone.  Copying Ingo, I rested the salmon and changed flies several times but mine never came back.

 

We left to another area for awhile but Ingo and I agreed I needed to try my fish again for the last half hour before the end of the session.  After an unsuccessful attempt at the other spot it came down to that last half hour and Ingo turned me loose on the run where I had a touch.  This trip has been amazing but how cool would it be to catch one more salmon?

 

blog-Aug-12-2014-4-atlantic-salmon-fly-fishing-in-icelandI don’t wear a watch but I knew time was flying as I worked the run – casting, swinging, stripping and taking a couple steps.  I was determined and somehow felt there were fish looking at my fly.  Just as Ingo hollered out that we had five minutes left I got that famous Atlantic salmon touch.

 

blog-Aug-12-2014-5-jeff-currier-fly-fishing-for-atlantic-salmonI held back from doing the trout set but the salmon never held on.  With only four minutes left there wasn’t time to rest the situation.  Instead I decided to stick with the same fly and change its action.  I cast far and mended like crazy getting the fly down deep.  Then I stripped and flipped the tip of my rod – very uncharacteristic of the way you fish for Atlantics.  But it worked.  Just when my fly was swinging at maximum speed I got thumped and hooked up.

 

blog-Aug-12-2014-6-jeff-currier-atlantic-salmon-fishing-icelandI had one last dandy of a salmon.  The hefty female made at least five high jumps smashing to the water with all her weight.  She took off so far in my backing I had to chase her downstream past where Ingo was making his last few casts.  Finally I gained control and a minute later Ingo’s gynormous net captured the 84 cm Atlantic salmon.

 

We’ve seen it before; my last cast often catches a lucky fish.  I have no idea what it is, but it happens.  I’ll never give up until I reel it in as long as I live.  In fact make that a lesson for us all.  Keep your fly in the water!

 

blog-Aug-12-2014-7-ingo-helgason-and-jeff-currierI’m presently in Reykjavik and its 1 AM on Wednesday.  Ingo and I just rapped up the trip with a few beers at a local pub and exchanged photos and notes.  I’m headed to the airport in a few hours and will be home late tonight.  It’s hard to believe I can leave this foreign world of Atlantic salmon near the North Pole and be in my own bed tonight – I love this world we live in.

 

Tomorrow I’ll close out Iceland blogs with some final thoughts and a few pictures that I have yet to post.

Everyone needs to do this trip.  Just contact me or Ingo at Icelandic Fly Fishermen!

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing

4 Comments

  1. Erik Moncada

    Cool stuff, Jeff! Fun.

  2. Jeff

    It was an amazing trip Erik. And as always, thanks for the responses!

  3. Howie

    May the magic never fail you! Despite the challenges “Monsoon”, awesome stories! Thanks for bringing Iceland fly fishing to the masses at home. I have enjoyed reading them all! You are an incredible story teller. Just keep the grey demon out.

  4. Jeff

    Howie, glad you enjoyed. I’m sorry to have missed the walleye trip. I must make it next year – imagine how that blog will finish up!

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I started fly fishing at age 7 in the lakes and ponds of New England cutting my teeth on various sunfish, bass, crappie and stocked trout. I went to Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, where I graduated with a Naturalist Degree while I discovered new fishing opportunities for pike, muskellunge, walleyes and various salmonids found in Lake Superior and its tributaries.

From there I headed west to work a few years in the Yellowstone region to simply work as much as most people fish and fish as much as most people work. I did just that, only it lasted over 20 years working at the Jack Dennis Fly Shop in Jackson, WY where I departed in 2009. Now it’s time to work for "The Man", working for myself that is.

I pursue my love to paint fish, lecture on every aspect of fly fishing you can imagine and host a few trips to some of the most exotic places you can think of. My ultimate goal is to catch as many species of fish on fly possible from freshwater to saltwater, throughout the world. I presently have taken over 440 species from over 60 countries!

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